Scene ~ Carly was just mugged, following Hannah through an alley. At Kelly's, Jason's cellphone rings...

Jason: Hello?

Carly: Jase?

Jason: What's wrong?

Carly: Can you come and get me?

Jason: Where are you?

Carly: I'm at a payphone. They took all my stuff...

Jason: Carly, tell me where you are.

Carly: I'm at a payphone. I don't know.

Jason: Look around you. Tell me what you see.

Carly: Buildings. And a... You know that street where there's never any traffic and they have the concrete thingies? You know, in between the...? I don't know.

Jason: What- What- What street? What's the name of the street, Carly?

Carly: It's Van Ness, I think. Please hurry...

Jason: Alright, I'll be right there.

Sliz: Is everything okay? Is Michael alright?

Jason: It's Carly.

(Whoosh! Faster than the speed of light - he's gone!)

* * * * *

(As Jason rounds the corner into the alley, his shoes squeak and his hand catches on the telephone pole and it wobbles. He takes a few cautious steps, looking around...)

Jason: Carly? Carly!

Carly: (she emerges from where she was crouched behind a dumpster) Yeah?

Jason: Hey. (he rushes over to her, taking her arm as she walks, his other arm around her)

Carly: They took all my stuff...

Jason: Are you hurt?

Carly: They took my purse, and my pearls, and my...

Jason: Listen, Carly. It's okay. (He takes her shoulders so she's facing him, her shoulders hunch up. He makes her look into his eyes, to make sure she understands the question. He brushes a strand of hair off her face.) Are you hurt?

Carly: (she shakes her head, understanding) No.

(Jason's face shows obvious extreme relief)

Carly: I tried to fight them and they just ran. I was just walking down the alley...

Jason: Why? What were you doing here in the alley?

Carly: Following Hannah.

Jason: Oh. What's the matter with you?

Carly: Don't get mad at me, please. (she turns away a little, trying not to cry)

Jason: It's okay. (he puts his arms around her gently, pulling her to him)

Carly: It's not okay. They took my wedding rings. What am I gonna tell AJ?

(Jason wraps his arms around her tighter and holds onto her for a long moment. Carly puts her arms around him, holding her hands out from him because of the scratches on them.)

Jason: C'mon. Let's go home.

(At 'home', there's a brief flicker of question on Carly's face, but she doesn't say anything. Jason pulls out of their embrace, keeping his arm around her back as they start to walk slowly. One of Carly's hands is around his back, still holding her hand out from him. They walker closer together and Jason puts his other hand on her forearm, keeping her close as they leave the alley.)

* * * * *

(Jason's PH - Jason opens the door and leads her inside, leaning around her as he closes the door)

Carly: Oh.

Jason: Here...

Carly: Thank you for bringing me here.

(they start to walk to the couch, one of Jason's hands on Carly's waist and the other on her elbow)

Carly: When you said 'home', I thought maybe you meant the Quartermaines. Not that I think of it as home, I just thought maybe you did. I mean, not your home. But, you know what I mean, my-

Jason: Okay. Sit.

Carly: (she sits) Home.

Jason: There we go. (he kneels in front of her, and begins to inspect her knees)

Carly: Don't be mad at me, okay? I know it was really stupid to let myself get mugged.

Jason: Yeah. In an alley off of Van Ness? (he takes one of her hands to pull it toward him so he can look at it) That's exactly where you should go-

Carly: Ow.

Jason: Sorry. To get mugged, Carly.

Carly: Yeah, I know. (she leans forward so he can look at her hands) I was following Hannah. And I know- I know that's why you're mad, Jason. But you know what? If you'd just listen to me-

Jason: I don't- I don't give a damn about Hannah. (He pauses, and stares at her. The words ring silently in the air - I care about you.) Carly, you're hurt. You could have been killed. So here's what's gonna happen. You're gonna sit there for five minutes, and not say a word, and let me take care of you.

(he starts to get up from the floor, and she starts to get up as well)

Carly: I'm really okay. It's not-

Jason: No. (he stops her by putting both his hands over hers) Sit - Down.

Carly: Ow. (she leans back into the couch) It's not as bad as it looks. (said half-heartedly as he rushes into the kitchen. She looks after him, then looks at her scraped hands.)You know, I was gonna call you before, but- I couldn't remember my credit card number. And I'm crawling around on the floor, and I'm bleeding, and I'm thinking, 'Is it 075 0075'-

Jason: (returns with a medical kit) Carly. Be quiet. (he kneels again, looking through the medical box)

Carly: (leans forward) That's not the kind of ointment that stings, is it?

Jason: Shut. Up. (He looks at her, a smile on his face but not on his mouth, although he's completely serious.)

Carly: (she smiles and laughs softly) Just asking.

(Jason smiles though he's trying not to, and shakes his head with a chuckle. He rips open a little something or other, my guess is an alcohol pad? And he scoots closer to her. She holds out one hand for him and he gently takes her wrist, applying the medical treatment whatever to the scrapes on her hand.)

Carly: Oh, man.

Jason: (very softly) It's not gonna sting.

Carly: (she tenses - it does sting) Ah...!

(Carly blows out a soft breath and bites her bottom lip, gazing at Jason with an almost-smile reminiscent of a cat who ate the canary and got away with it. She loves having him take care of her like this. I'd say she thinks the injuries are almost worth it, if she gets to have him tend to her so tenderly. She might be feeling some sting of pain, but she's in absolute heaven at that moment...)

* * * * *

(Carly's shrugging out of her red leather jacket, one foot on Jason's knee as he administers to her scraped knee)

Jason: They're only scrapes. So you just use this antibiotic ointment for a couple days, and you'll be okay.

Carly: Thank you. No, wait, wait. (she takes the bandage from him, although not removing her foot from his knee as she leans back into the cushions) Um... I'm just gonna tell AJ that I fell outside of Kelly's and I came straight home. This'd blow the whole story.

Jason: Why not tell him the truth?

Carly: Because this is AJ we're talking about here. (she sits up and puts the bandage down) You know? What do you think would freak him out more, Jase? (he's doing something to her hands - re-ointmenting them?) That I- I think Hannah's, you know, cheating on Sonny? Or that I know Sonny's girlfriend at all in the first place? Or that I was following her around, I got mugged, and then I called you?

Jason: Okay, uh. How are you going to explain the missing pearls? Or your wedding rings?

Carly: Just give me a second here. You know, I didn't fall on my head. (he takes her hand again to inspect it) I don't know. Maybe I didn't fall outside of Kelly's. Maybe I fell at the Elm Street pier while I was looking at his stupid crane. (she looks upward, her eyes darting back and forth in thought) And my purse... fell in the water. (Jason laughs and shakes his head) And when I tried to get it back, the water was so cold that my fingers shrank and the rings fell off.

(she looks down, he tilts his head to try to catch her eyes)

Jason: Hmm.

Carly: He could buy it. Especially if I cried and gave him a big fat kiss. Yuck.

Jason: (he takes a breath, looks away to the side, and thinks for a second) Why not- Why not just tell AJ that you got mugged, and just leave out the part about following Hannah?

Carly: He'll go ballistic when he finds out I was robbed. And he'll call Mac and he'll insist on a full investigation. And what if they find the guys, you know? And they admit where it happened? I don't know, I just think it's better to come up with some kind of a reasonable excuse for why the rings disappeared.

(he gets up and heads quickly for the door)

Carly: Jase?

Jason: I'll be right back.

(She stands, wrings one hand, and pushes back her hair off the side of her face. Then she wrings both hands before starting to walk around the couch to the desk. She sees the picture of her, Jason, and Michael, and picks it up, close to crying as she looks at it. She hugs it to her chest and folds her arms over it - thinking about what she had and what she lost, and the family that she wants but can never have again. At the sound of the door opening, she quickly composes herself and pulls the frame from her chest, but still holds onto it. Jason sees what she's doing, then closes the door behind him and walks slowly over to her, stuffing his hands into his pockets.)

Carly: You kept these?

Jason: Yes, I did.

Carly: Let me ask you something. (points at him) Does Graciella still clean for you?

Jason: (nods once) Sure.

Carly: I figured. It looks like nobody lives here. You know, I have tell you. The point of having a housekeeper is for her to pick up after you. (he opens his mouth to say something, smiling a little, and puts his hand on her arm to calm her and get her attention) It's not for you to sleep on the stupid couch so that she doesn't have to make your bed. And it's not for you not to touch anything so that she doesn't have to clean.

Jason: Hey. I'm- Carly. I'm fine. (he tilts his head, but she won't look at him, she looks down at her hands)

Carly: (nods) Right. (She looks at him and her face clearly reads - Without me.) Where'd you go?

Jason: (his hand drops from her arm) I sent Johnny on an errand. (she looks at him with a half-amused smile at the answer) You're dirty.

Carly: (laughs) Thanks. (she turns away, covering her face with her hands, then wipes her cheeks)

Jason: Well, you've been crawling around the alley. What do you expect? You can- You can take a shower if you feel like it.

Carly: That'd be good.

Jason: (softly, almost intimately) You know where everything is upstairs.

Carly: (close to crying) I miss you.

(She moves to him, her face against his chest. He puts one arm around her shoulders, the other around her waist. Then his hand goes to her hair and she turns her head. He leans his chin back a little so her head is tucked against his neck. They hold each other for a few seconds... Carly smiles a little.)

Jason: Go.

(She touches her thumb to her lips. His hands drop to her back, then she moves back before starting for the stairs.)

Carly: Okay. But I'm just warning you. (He rubs his forehead with his middle finger. She runs a hand through her hair, then points at him.) I'm gonna use at least three towels, and I don't want you picking them up, either. (she points over her shoulder as she goes up the steps) You pay that woman enough money that she should do something.

(Jason walks to the couch with a sigh, and sits down in the same spot where Carly had been sitting. He picks up her leather jacket and folds it into his lap.)

* * * * *

(Jason answers the door - Sonny with his arm around Hannah's shoulders)

Jason: Oh. Did I forget something?

Hannah: We're here to ask a favour. Well, I am, anyway. Sonny just came for backup.

Jason: Okay. (he motions for them to enter and Sonny & Hannah come inside)

Hannah: Um, I don't know if Sonny's told you, but um, he doesn't like my cooking.

Jason: (puts his hands in his pockets) Ah, he doesn't like anyone's cooking. Except his own.

Hannah: And yours. At least that's what he tells me.

Jason: I don't cook.

Sonny: Told ya.

Hannah: Are you calling Sonny a liar? (insert forced laughter from the three of them) Anyways, obviously you- You cook on special occasions. So that's what I was hoping tonight would be. You would make the entree and I would make the dessert.

(Jason gives her a quizzical look)

Sonny: You would- You would bond, in the kitchen.

Jason: (raises his eyebrows, not getting it) Bond?

Sonny: Yeah. Hannah seems to think that you guys aren't friends anymore. And she's trying to fix it. So she thinks by you spending more time with her like, you know, working next to her in the kitchen, you'll relax. And stop acting like a slab of marble. (Hannah laughs) Whenever you're around her, you see.

Jason: Well, it's nice, uh, what you're trying to do. But I'm in the middle of something right now.

Hannah: What? There's nothing going on here.

(Enter Carly - coming down the stairs as she rubs a towel over her hair. She's wearing nothing but Jason's shirt, her hair wet and slightly curly.)

Carly: Oh. I am going to get you some new shampoo, the first chance I get. That stuff's like paint thinner.

(She halts on the last stair, just then seeing that they aren't alone...)

* * * * *

(Carly decides to take advantage of the situation and walks over to Jason, but holds the towel in front of her bare legs)

Hannah: Perfect. This is just perfect.

Carly: Sorry.

(Carly stretches up to give Jason a kiss on the cheek, trying to play it up. But Jason pulls away and holds up his hands.)

Jason: Carly.

Carly: Well, I didn't know we had company.

Jason: Carly got mugged.

(The look on Carly's face says - Ya couldn't let me have that, could ya?)

Sonny: What do you mean? Where?

Jason: In an alley off of Van Ness. Two guys threw her down on the ground. They took her purse, her rings, and her necklace.

Sonny: Did they hurt you?

Carly: No. Just fell - fell down.

Sonny: Did they frighten you?

Carly: I've been frightened worse.

Sonny: She give you a description?

Jason: I've got someone on it.

Sonny: What the hell were you doing in an alley? Especially with all that jewelry. I mean, you- you need to be more careful.

Hannah: Oh, please! Don't tell me you're buying this act.

* * * * *

Hannah: You're the first person to warn me about Carly. How she lies at the drop of a hat. And now you believe this oh-so-convenient story about the mugging?

Carly: Excuse me. What- What do you think? (she gestures down to the bruises and scrapes on her knees) That I did this to myself?

Hannah: Oh, in a heartbeat. If you knew it would bring Jason running.

Carly: Oh, you know what? You don't know anything about me and Jason, so-

Hannah: Yeah, I know that you're married to his brother. (Carly applauds with sarcastic pride. Jason glances over at Sonny, then raises his eyebrows and leans his head back and to one side as if to say - here they go again.) You have a husband, a mother, the richest family in town at your beck and call - and where do we find you? Here, at Jason's apartment, wearing his shirt.

Jason: That's right. (he stands, stoic as ever, with his arms crossed) My apartment, my shirt. This has nothing to do with you.

Sonny: He's right, Hannah. It's none of your business. What do you think you're doing?

Hannah: Yeah, it does when she tries to get the two of you against me.

(Jason is now staring at her intently, as if trying to figure out a puzzle... He knows Carly's not lying. So what does Hannah have to gain by so vehemently trying to discredit Carly? Unless she has something to hide...)

Hannah: She's lying about the mugging. Just like she lies about who she sees me with, and what I do. Can't you see that she's a man-i-pu-la-tor?

Carly: Well, it does take one to know one.

Sonny: Enough. Let's go.

(Carly turns as Sonny & Hannah start for the door. Jason doesn't turn, but heads further into the room, with his arms still crossed.)

Carly: You know what, Sonny? Can you- Sonny, she's making a fool outta you behind your back, man. She- (The door slams. She turns back to Jason.) You mad at me now?

Jason: (nods toward the stairs, still involved in his thoughts) Go get dressed.

Carly: Jason. I didn't set you up. I wouldn't do that. The only reason Hannah's accusing me is because that's what she's doing to Sonny.

Jason: Carly. I get it. You're right. Hannah is hiding something.

* * * * *

(Carly's coming down the stairs, fully dressed. Jason's at the door, taking a shiny gold shopping bag from Johnny.)

Carly: You know what I found in the bathroom drawers up there? One of my old hair clippies. Hey, Johnny.

Johnny: Mrs. Quartermaine.

Carly: Carly.

Johnny: Carly.

Jason: Thanks, Johnny.

(Jason closes the door and sets the bag down on the desk. Carly walks over to him, smiling with curious interest.)

Carly: Well, what was this little secret mission you sent Johnny on, anyway?

Jason: (he takes out a long black velvet jewelry case) See if they're right.

Carly: (she looks up at him from the box) My pearls?

Jason: Hmm? (she opens the case) No. But close enough so the Quartermaine's won't notice.

Carly: Wow. Oh, wow. (she looks up at him, smiling) Do you wanna fasten them for me?

(Jason closes the box and Carly turns, putting the necklace around her neck. Jason stands close behind her as he works to fasten the clasp. When that's done, his hands land on her shoulders.)

Jason: There you go.

Carly: (she half-turns to look at him, not quite grinning at him) I don't suppose you have a coupla diamond rings in there, do ya? (she turns the rest of the way and leans over to peek into the bag)

Jason: (he takes out a small black velvet ring box and holds it out to her) Look for yourself.

(She takes the box and opens it, revealing a huge diamond ring and a diamond wedding band - exact duplicates of the originals.)

Carly: Oh, my god. I don't know- How did you do this? I can't believe you did this.

Jason: I thought it would be easier than you having to make explanations.

Carly: What are you waiting for? (she holds the box out to him)

Jason: No, no, no. You... (his index finger brushes back a stray stand of hair from her cheek) You know how to put rings on, Carly.

Carly: (she grins that irrestible grin at him and nods, a tad bit shyly) Well, I don't see any harm in it. I mean, I know it doesn't mean anything. I'm just-

Jason: Then why do you want me to? (but he does know that it means something to her - something important)

Carly: Don't make me explain. You really wouldn't understand, Jase. Please? Come on, just-

Jason: Okay, okay.

(He gently takes the ring box from her grasp and takes out both rings, then sets the box on the desk. Carly presents her left hand to him. He looks at her for a second, his face soft, almost smiling, and their eyes meet for a second. She smiles a little and laughs a whisper of a laugh. Close shot of their hands, as Jason slips the wedding band on her finger ever-so gently. He pauses with the diamond engagement ring positioned at her fingertip, and looks at her. Then he looks down again and Carly looks up at him, their eyes just barely missing each other. Then Jason slides the ring the rest of the way onto her finger. In the silence that is so loud it is almost deafening, their eyes meet for a meaningful moment. Jason looks away first. He sighs and looks down at the rings on her hand - I'd make a pretty sure bet that he now knows why she wanted him to put the rings on her finger for her. He can feel it, the same way she is affected by it... He moves her hands away and sighs, then rubs his cheek with a knuckle.

Then they both seem to catch themselves - and their breath - again. Carly seems almost a little stunned. She looks away and down at her hand, almost in amazement.)

Carly: They're really - perfect. I don't know how you managed to get them so good, here.

Jason: Yeah. I sent Johnny to the same jeweler AJ used. You told me enough about the rings when he gave them to you. (He bends his knees so he's at her level, and looks at her with a teasing glint in his eye. She looks at him and he returns to full height.) 18-karat gold ring with a 5-karat emerald-cut center stone and half-a-karat trilliants on the side - whatever those are. (he laughs a small laugh)

Carly: I don't believe you remembered all that. I never think you're listening to me.

Jason: How can I help it? (affectionately) You won't go away.

Carly: Oh. Okay.

Jason: (he puts the jewelry boxes back into the bag, and their shoulders bump) Even though it's annoying, sometimes. (She turns to face him, her head down. He takes her shoulders and rubs her arms once, holding onto her. She looks up at him.) It's good.

Carly: It's good.

Jason: Yeah. Because I'm starting to think that you're right about Hannah.

Carly: So you going to tell Sonny?

Jason: Not without proof.

Carly: Well-

Jason: No. Which - I'll get. Okay? I mean it. I don't want you following her into any more alleys.

Carly: Okay.

Jason: Promise me.

Carly: I promise you.

Jason: (flash of a smile, touches her arms again) Good. Time for you to go.

(Jason moves back and puts one hand on her elbow, his other hand sliding over the back of the yummie black leather desk chair. He picks up her jacket and opens the door. Carly hesitates and half-turns, trying to think of some excuse to stay a little longer. Jason waves the jacket toward the door and she laughs as she passes him.)

Carly: Oh, god. You know what? (she takes the jacket, standing in the door frame, turned toward him) There's something I have to show you. (she starts to put on the jacket) Really.

Jason: What? (he stands with his hands on his hips) How- How bad do I need to see it?

Carly: Well, it's definitely very important. And I guess you'll just sorta have to trust me on it.

Jason: Yeah. (he pauses, then nods to one side once) I guess I'll have to.

(He goes past her out the door to the elevator, while reaching into his pocket. Then he hits the elevator button and pulls a large fold of bills out and counts it. He looks up as Carly slowly shuffles her way to where he is.)

Carly: Mmm...

(She crosses her hands over her heart as she sees he's giving her the traditional money for a cab. She takes it and his hands return to his pockets. She stuffs the money into her jacket pocket.)

Jason: You have everything you need?

Carly: I've got my pearls, I have my diamonds. I have a really great excuse, by the way. I fell from the Elm Street Pier and my purse went into the water.

Jason: (he nods) Mmhmm.

(The elevator doors open and they both laugh, Jason hanging his head as he takes a step back.)

Carly: Thank you for everything, Jase.

Jason: You're welcome. (he reaches out an arm to hold the elevator door open)

Carly: I'll see you tomorrow, right? (she points at him) I mean...

(He just nods at the elevator for her to get inside. She chuckles and shrugs as she does. As the doors roll shut, she points at him a final time as if to remind him, and he holds up a hand as a wave goodbye. After the doors close, he heads back to his penthouse.)